Here at FrogPrints we are asked all the time "How should I store my digital pictures?" The first answer that comes to mind may seem obvious: on your computer's hard drive. But that's the wrong answer. A computer hard drive is fine for temporary storage, and great for accessing your pictures quickly, but your favourite pictures should always be saved somewhere additional to the ones on your hard drive. If that hard drive fails, or your PC is stolen, your pictures could be lost forever.
 
Fast-changing technology means storage devices and media popular today will probably be obsolete in just a few years. So, we recommend both the most popular current technology solution and a very traditional way of storing your digital pictures.

Storing digital pictures as photo prints in albums

Are we serious? Store digital pictures as prints in photo albums? Indeed, we are. And as you'll see, the photo album deserves your serious consideration for its long-term storage advantages.
 
 Advantages:
  • Prints won't become technologically obsolete; when properly stored they can last for generations.
  • Prints are an accessible and enjoyable record of your lifetime.
  • They can bring families together because albums are available to everybody.
  • Digital images can be recovered by scanning your prints.
  • You don't need a computer to view your pictures.
     
     Disadvantages:
  • They take up more space and require extra organization.
  • They require special (but readily available) album materials for increasing longevity.
     
     Threats: exposure to light, heat and humidity
     
     Your first choice may be to decide whether to make prints on your home inkjet printer or have a photo service make them for you on real photographic paper. Check out our article Photo prints vs Home printing to help make your decision. In reality, you will likely have both inkjet and traditional photo prints. The traditional photo print will last longer, have brighter colors and probably be less hassle to create, but in the right storage conditions, both should last for decades.
     
     With your piles of prints in front of you, see our article on Scrapbooking to learn how to create and store a special photo album that will amuse and amaze future generations.

    Storing digital pictures on CD-ROMs

    Today most computers come with a built-in CD-ROM drive and a CD writer, so you can create your own CDs. DVD-ROM drives and writers are becoming more popular and can also read CD-ROMS. Unlike pressed original CDs, burned CDs have a relatively short life span of 2 to 5 years, depending on the quality of the CD. There are a few things you can do to extend the life of a burned CD, like keeping the disc in a cool, dark space but not a whole lot more.
     
     The problem is material degradation. Optical discs commonly used for burning, such as CD-R and CD-RW, have a recording surface consisting of a layer of dye that can be modified by heat to store data. The degradation process can result in the data "shifting" on the surface and thus becoming unreadable to the laser beam. Many of the cheap burnable CDs available at discount stores have a life span of around 2 years. Some of the better-quality discs offer a longer life span of a maximum of 5 years.
     
     The rapid pace of technology also means that technology 10 years into the future may not be compatible with today's CDs and DVDs. It will be necessary in 10 to 20 years to transfer all your images from CD/DVD to a new format that we don't yet know about. This would be similar to the current rush to convert VHS content onto DVD.
     
     Advantages of CDs:
  • They can be used by almost everybody who owns a computer.
  • They hold hundreds, even thousands, of pictures.
  • They are inexpensive.
     
     Disadvantages of CDs:
  • They are somewhat fragile.
  • They will degrade after 2 - 5 years.
  • They could become obsolete in 10 or 20 years.
     
     Threats: rough handling, chemicals, poor original quality, high temperature/humidity